The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-01

be as sudden MS his seizure.
That.evening Major Henderson re-
turned. Hardly had he Knocked Mt
the door, when Mr.. Browne emerged
from the opposite cottage.
what news. Sir?" asked the SYM
pathetic Mr.. Browne.
1.-THE worst possible" replied the
Major, throwing himself into an easy
chair and covering his face with his
hands. "That poor girl yonder is u
begger, and | have but hundred a
year left"
! Maude looked from one to the other
in utter bewilderment, and then cross.
~ over to her uncle, trying to COM
fort him and gain some explanation
at the same time.
81 feel this is no scene for a stranger
to witness" said Mr.. Browne. "Sir,
you have my deepest sympathy, and
! am sure that at the present moment
can show it in no better way than
by withdrawing"
| Maude followed her lover to the
, door. She was much distressed on
her uncle's account, but did not fully
realize her own loss OF fortune.
care you really better, dear jack"
she asked anxiously.
ayes, thank you. Quite cured.
| Goodbye" and he was gone.
That her lovers leave-taking was n
little abrupt did strike Maude; she
was, however, far too confused by
the turn affairs had taken to at"
tach much Importance to the first
circumstance.
When she returned to her uncle ne
seemed wonderfully better, and Mt
supper he talked quite cheerfully OF
their future.
Maude passed another sleepless
night. She did not so much mind the
terrible loss she had sustained on her
OWL account; hut she was bitterly
disappointed that she could not do
all she had promised for her dear
Jack She determined however, TO
be the most loving and economical
wife possible. At all events her uncle
would not be able to accuse Jack OF
being mercenary now, and there was
much comfort in that reflection. Per-
hads after all they would be able to
have n proper wedding, only OF course
it would have to be very quiet one.
How much nicer that would be than
running away and deceiving her uncle,
who had always been so kind to her.
When she came down to breakfast
the next morning she was looking pale
and little worn after her two Sleep
less nights. The Major, however,
seemed to have succeeded in throwing
off his grief in quite a wonderful man.
ner, and was in almost his usual
spirits
"Have you heard how Mr.. Browne
is this morning." Maude ventured to
ask the landlady's daughter.
"Why, Miss, he paid up Tor the week
and went off by the mail train last
night, declaring he was sure the place
didn't suit him"
Poor Maude! The blow did indeed
fall on her with crushing force.
I "Dear me. rather sudden We shall
Maude?" said the Major, as soon as
the uncle and niece were left together.
He laid slight stress on the adjec'
tive, and there was n suspicion OF fun
in his eyes. IL was, however, no laugh.
ing matter To Maude; she, poor girl,
unable longer to act her part, burst
into an uncomfortable fit OF weeping
poor child, poor child!' said the
Major, compassionatey; ITS a sharp
lesson for you to learn. But it is bet
ter to bear little pain now than to
suffer Tor the remainder OF your life,
as would most probably have been
your fate if | had not paid that scoun'
arel out in his own COIN"
The threatened loss OF fortune was
all a fabrication, Major Henderson
having gone no nearer to London than
the top room in Honeysuckle Cottage
The truth was, the Major had dis
covered what was going on when he
had come upon the lovers so unexpect'
eddy. lie then devised the scheme
which he afterward carried out so
successfully. in order to test the sim
cerity OF Lieut.. Maplesons attach.
ment to Maude. Major Henderson
had, OF course, been Obliged TO
take the landlady into his confidence,
and she, fully entering into the
spirit of the thing, had suggested the
Majors occupying the top room in
her cottage, whence he could watch
Mr.. Brownies movements. And so
Major Henderson had merely walked
to the station, portmanteau in hand,
and, returning, had entered Honey
suckle Cottage by the back way.
Maude's grief and humiliation were so
real when she heard these details that
her uncle, thinking she would not care
to remain where her story was known,
wisely suggested returning home the
following day.
1--WE can give garden party or
something of that kind in honor of